Dowry Deaths in Bangladesh: A Study on Obligation under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The dowry system has been included in Bangladeshi Marriage system from Hindu marriage culture. In the rural areas, impact of this system is highly visible where it is treated as an essential component of every marriage contact. Dowry system has become a deep –rooted social custom and for this, many women are murdered, or they commit suicide. Interestingly, these incidents are caused those are vowed to protect them legally and socially. In Bangladesh, different kinds of laws have been introduced to minimize the social menace. Bangladesh is the member of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights where right to life and prohibition on arbitrary deprivation of right to life is ensured. But non payments of dowry deaths are on the rise despite legal intervention. This paper attempts to explain that lack of enforcement of anti-dowry laws, and also non-fulfillment of human rights obligation as mentioned in International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Bangladesh, are the main causes of dowry related maltreatments and even deaths of the young married women.